The operating or shareholder agreement. It shows ownership percentages, who directs the business and what happens in a deadlock, and it is the document a consular officer reads to decide whether each applicant develops and directs the enterprise.
The agreement answers the control question
A purchase agreement proves that a business was bought and for how much; a bank statement proves money moved; neither says who runs the company. The operating agreement does. It should state the capital contributed by each member, the percentage interest, the management structure, which decisions require unanimity, and how the partners resolve a tie. Hypothetical example: the hauling business's operating agreement could designate one partner as responsible for operations and the other for finance, with both signing on hiring and equipment purchases. Have it drafted by a lawyer in the state of formation, because entity law differs by state and a Saskatchewan-style unanimous shareholder agreement may not translate directly. Attach it to the application together with the certificate of formation, the membership ledger and a short organizational chart.
Hypothetical example: a Canadian citizen establishes an archival-scanning service in the United States. The file should follow the funds in order: savings statements or sale documents, transfer records, the U.S. company account, signed lease or equipment contracts, invoices and payment confirmations. Formation records and an operating agreement establish who directs the enterprise. The first review produces a transaction table with date, amount, source and exhibit number; it exposes unexplained cash deposits before the application does. A business plan alone proves intention, whereas executed commitments and records showing funds at risk demonstrate a real enterprise.